Love and Lace Challenge with The Stampsmith

Hello Everyone,
Happy February!  As it is the first on the month, that means it is time for the new Stampsmith Challenge!  Our new theme for the month is:

LOVE AND LACE

This month's prize - a  FULL SHEET OF RUBBER-  is provided by The Cutting Garden in Halifax, Nova Scotia where four members of the Stampsmith Design Team will be holding a Stampsmith workshop on Saturday, February 11th.  The Cutting Garden is now stocking Stampsmith stamps and invites you to drop off or mail in a project to be displayed in the store until March 31.  All entries will automatically be entered here in this month's Stampsmith challenge and draw.  Visit The Cutting Garden web site for further details in the Events Calendar.


***Special Note  ***  The new February Technique Junkies Newsletter features ideas on using Stampsmith Photo stamps. 


In keeping with the Challenge theme, I have made a Valentine's Day Card.   I used an image from the Flapper's 3 Full Sheet.

The image is stamped with black dye ink.  The sentiment is from My Sentiments Exactly.  I stamped on white CS and added all the color with Distress Inks (Ranger).  

The heart is die cut and embossed with a Spellbinders die.  I added lots of laces that I had in my stash.    And, here is a peek at the inside.  This sentiment is also from My Sentiments Exactly.

Some Challenges for my Valentine's Day Card:

Anything Challenge: To the one I love

Deep blue Ocean: Love you

Scrap-Creations: Red, pink, and white

My time to Craft: A is for Adorable

Oldie but a goodie: Have a heart-my oldies are the shaped lace is 10 years old, the pink used for the card base 1year old, the large sentiment on the front-1 1/2 years old.

Shopping Our Stash: People

The Stamping boutique: valentine's

cooking it up with Katie: punch an embossed heart

Reasonable Ribbon: Red and pink with ribbon
Craft us Crazy: Anything goes

Join us for the Stampsmith Challenge.  I can't wait to see how you interpret the theme!!  Have a lovely day!!

Karen

My Funny Valentine with Blockheads

Hello Everyone!
Today, I have a funny Valentine to share with you.  I used one of The Ghastlie Gang stamps (by Di) from Blockheads Paper Arts.


Stacey( owner of Blockheads) has been sharing some amazing tutorials on using Studio Paints from Ranger in the Blockheads Newsletter.  I was inspired by the tutorials to use the Studio Paints for the background on this card.

Materials List:

Ghastlie Gang Stamp Set

Tuxedo Black dye ink from Memento

CS: Solar White from Neenah, purple, and lavender

Spellbinders Dies:

    Standard Circles Small

    Classic Scalloped  Hearts

Pearls from Kaiser Craft

Copic Markers

Studio Paints:

   Dash of Red

   Clear Canvas (White)

   Smidge of Blue

Studio Paints Gesso

Studio Paints Brushes

I  will start with the main image.  The Ghastlie Gang character is stamped with Tuxedo Black dye ink.  Color the image with Copic Markers.  Cut out the image with a heart shaped die.  Cut a circle from the lavender cs with a circle die.

Make a card base from purple CS and layer with lavender CS.  To make the painted background piece:
Start white CS and cover it Gesso using a brush.  Let this dry.

When dry, spray a tiny bit of water on the CS.  Paint on a layer of the Dash of Red Paint with the large brush.

While the red paint is still wet, pick up more red paint and using a wiggle motion pull the paint downwards.

Do this across the whole area of the painted white CS.  Mix the Dash of Red with Smidge of Blue to make purple.

While the red paint on the CS is still wet, pick up some of the purple and pull the paint across the CS in horizontal direction.

Do the same thing with the Blank Canvas (white) paint.  Wipe the brush clean each time before picking up more of the white paint.  You don't want to mix in the other colors with the white.

Let dry.

Now just put all the layers together.  Add some pearls and some ribbon.  And, you are done.

Okay, that was a lot of info.  Let me know if you have any questions.   It really is easy to create the backgrounds...after reading the tutorials!  LOL   Oh boy, this is fun!!  Don't forget the new Blockheads Technique Challenge is open.  The technique is Chalk Attraction.
Have a great day!  Love ya.
Karen

Valentine Digi Card

Back again!!

Another post today!  This is another Valentine's Day card that is going out to a fiend.  I used a cute little bear from Meljens Designs.  

I printed the digi out and colored it with Copic markers.  I used dimensional squares to  add the little bear to a lavender card base (Stampin' Up) and DP  (GCD Studios).  

And here is a peek at the inside.  The sentiment and small heart  are from My Sentiments Exactly.

Challenges for Heart Cookie Bear

Meljens Challenge: Hearts and a Meljens image
I Copic Lover: red love
Craft Your Passion: use a bear
Paper Makeup: digi and valentine
Crafty Pad: Valentines
Simon Says stamp: Anything goes

Okay, now that really is all for me today!  Have a fun day!  Love ya.
Karen

Chalk Attraction Technique Blog Hop Challenge with Blockheads

Hello again!
It is time for the new Technique Challenge with Blockheads!!   The new challenge is to use the Technique that Design Team Member, Leigh,  calls  Chalk Attraction. 
The challenge/blog hop runs thru Feb 21st.  The Design Team will pick one winner to receive a $25 gift certificate to Blockheads Paper Arts.

I used the Romeo and Juliet stamp from the Grunge Collages Set  It is also available as individual stamp.

I was very pleasantly surprised at how my Chalk project turned out.  I was afraid I would end up with a chalky mess.  But, I followed the Tutorial and my image turned out great!!

Materials List:

Stamps: Grunge Collages; Sentiment from Flowers-Daisies

Ink: VersaMark

Chalks

Cardstock: White, pink, blue. brown

Pearls

Ribbon

Dabbers 

Orange Bag (in photo below)

Brush (in photo below)

Stamp the main image with VersaMark ink and apply the chalk as shown in the tutorial.  I wanted to use the technique for my background too.  I used an usual item to make the background; an orange bag.  You know, the mesh type bag that the fruit comes in (shown above).

I laid  a piece of the bag on pink CS.  I pounched the VersaMark pad over the bag as shown in the photo below.

I used the large brush in the photo above to add the chalk to the background piece.  I came back with the dabbers to add more chalk in some spots to add darker coloring.  Here is a close up of the main image.

Have fun with this Technique Challenge!!  Have a great day!!  Love ya.

Karen

Love Notes from The Stampsmith

Hello and Happy Monday!
I am still working on Valentines's Day cards!  I have two cards to share today that I made with The Stampsmith's set called Love Notes Valentines.  This is the whole set.

I stamped with Archival Ink from Ranger on glossy white CS.  I found that this ink is really great for photo stamps.  I picked up a couple pads from Blockheads Paper Arts.  The ink on the first card is Coffee.

I added some Vintage Photo and Tattered roses Distress ink.  The sentiment is also from The Stampsmith's set called Paris.  Her is a close up.  I also stamped the hearts across the top.

And, the inside looks like this.  I stamped the hearts again and a Sentiment from My Sentiments Exactly.

The second card was stamped with Sienna Archival Ink. from Ranger.   I used some papers from K & Company.

I added Vintage Photo Distress ink to the image and one layer of the dp which was dry embossed.  This sentiment is also from the Paris set.   Here is a close up.

Stayed tuned for more cards made with this set!!  Follow me to see them all.   

Hope you had a great weekend.  Love ya!

Karen

Who's Your Valentine?

Hello!
Here we go again with more of the Valentine's Day Cards I made for St. Jude.   I used the Stampin' Up Owl punch for all of these cards.  I used lots of different DP's, die cuts, and embossing folders too.

There are still more cards to come.  Stayed tuned tomorrow for another batch of Owl Punch cards.   I hope you are not tired of Valentine's yet!  I share some baby cards after Valentine's Day.  Have a great weekend! Love ya.
Karen

Valentine's Day Bunnies

Hi Everyone!
More Valentine's Day Cards for St Jude.  The first and second bunny is made with a digital  image from Sweet N'  Sassy stamps.

This cute little bunny is a digital image from The Prairie Fairy.

Challenges:
CardMad Fairy: Ribbons and bows
Card Making Mamas: something old - the dp on the last card is about 2 years old.
Simon Say Stamp: anything goes

I will have lots of Valentine's Day cards  over the next couple weeks.   I will post all the cards I made for St Jude and the ones I made for my friends and family.  Tomorrow I will have a bunch of Owl Valentine's made with the Stampin' Up Owl Punch.  See you then!   I hope you are having a great day!!   Love ya.
Karen